BBC To Replace Grange Hill With Confusing Japanese Cartoon

IT was essential viewing for 16 generations of British children and launched the careers of Letitia Dean, Todd Carty and the girl who played Trisha Yates.

Koizumi Pig breathes fire and plays the trumpet

Grange Hill taught millions of teenagers how to take drugs and was home to television's most twisted psychopaths, including Gripper Stebson, Mr Ronson and that nice woodwork teacher with the dark hair who went on to become the most evil person ever to live in Coronation Street.

But now the alma mater of Tucker Jenkins, Benny Green, Sue Tully and the other ones is to be closed down to make way for a cartoon about a team of super-strong baby farm animals who are also in a marching band.

Shenzo Super Bang-Bang Squad follows the adventures of a gang of wide-eyed pigs, cats and chickens who collect points by fighting the robot weasels from Shenzo City using their special laser key fobs.

They can then turn the points into magic coins which they use to buy instruments and uniforms. Each episode ends with a song about a fictional endangered species.

Media analysts say the move is line with the BBC's ongoing policy of decommissioning popular, long-running shows of consistent quality and replacing them with piles of shit.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Shenzo is already huge in Vietnam, Azerbaijan and Tunisia. Children are fascinated by the sounds and the bright colours, especially the 14-16 year-olds."

She added: "There will be a range of branded toys, games, laser key fobs, a weekly magazine, bath products, cooking utensils, and a selection of hardwood conservatories.

"And come the summer time there will also be ice lollies shaped like your favourite Shenzo characters, which I'm sure you'll agree is a bit more appetising than big fat Roland on a stick."